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'''''Psychotherapy''''' is the only form of therapy there is. Since only the mind can be sick, only the mind can be healed. Only the mind is in need of healing. This does not appear to be the case, for the manifestations of this world seem real indeed. Psychotherapy is necessary so that an individual can begin to question their reality. Sometimes he is able to start to open his mind without formal help, but even then it is always some change in his perception of interpersonal relationships that enables him to do so. Sometimes he needs a more structured, extended relationship with an "official" therapist. Either way, the task is the same; the patient must be helped to change his mind about the "reality" of illusions.

'''''Psychotherapy''''' is the only form of [[therapy]] there is. Since only [[the mind]] can be sick, only the mind can be [[healed]]. Only the mind is in need of healing. This does not [[appear]] to be the case, for the [[manifestations]] of this world seem real indeed. Psychotherapy is [[necessary]] so that an [[individual]] can begin to [[question]] their [[reality]]. Sometimes he is able to start to open his [[mind]] without formal help, but even then it is always some [[change]] in his [[perception]] of interpersonal [[relationships]] that enables him to do so. Sometimes he needs a more [[structured]], extended relationship with an "official" therapist. Either way, the task is the same; the patient must be helped to change his mind about the "reality" of [[illusions]].

==The Purpose of Psychotherapy==

==The Purpose of Psychotherapy==

1. Very simply, the purpose of psychotherapy is to remove the blocks to truth. Its aim is to aid the patient in abandoning his fixed delusional system, and to begin to reconsider the spurious cause and effect relationships on which it rests. No one in this world escapes fear, but everyone can reconsider its causes and learn to evaluate them correctly. God has given everyone a Teacher Whose wisdom and help far exceed whatever contributions an earthly therapist can provide. Yet there are times and situations in which an earthly patient-therapist relationship becomes the means through which He offers His greater gifts to both.

*'''1'''. Very simply, the [[purpose]] of [[psychotherapy]] is to remove the [[blocks]] to [[truth]]. Its aim is to aid the patient in [[abandoning]] his fixed [[delusional]] system, and to begin to reconsider the spurious [[cause and effect]] [[relationships]] on which it rests. No one in this world [[escapes]] [[fear]], but everyone can reconsider its causes and learn to [[evaluate]] them correctly. God has given everyone a Teacher Whose [[wisdom]] and help far exceed whatever contributions an earthly [[therapist]] can provide. Yet there are times and situations in which an earthly patient-therapist relationship becomes [[the means]] through which He offers His greater gifts to both.  

2. What better purpose could any relationship have than to invite the Holy Spirit to enter into it and give it His Own great gift of rejoicing? What higher goal could there be for anyone than to learn to call upon God and hear His Answer? And what more transcendent aim can there be than to recall the way, the truth and the life, and to remember God? To help in this is the proper purpose of psychotherapy. Could anything be holier? For psychotherapy, correctly understood, teaches forgiveness and helps the patient to recognize and accept it. And in his healing is the therapist forgiven with him.

*'''2'''. What better [[purpose]] could any [[relationship]] have than to invite the [[Holy Spirit]] to enter into it and give it His Own great gift of rejoicing? What higher [[goal]] could there be for anyone than to learn to call upon [[God]] and hear His Answer? And what more [[transcendent]] aim can there be than to recall the way, the [[truth]] and the [[life]], and to remember God? To help in this is the proper purpose of [[psychotherapy]]. Could anything be holier? For psychotherapy, correctly [[understood]], teaches [[forgiveness]] and helps the patient to recognize and [[accept]] it. And in his healing is the therapist forgiven with him.  

3. Everyone who needs help, regardless of the form of his distress, is attacking himself, and his peace of mind is suffering in consequence. These tendencies are often described as "self-destructive," and the patient often regards them in that way himself. What he does not realize and needs to learn is that this "self," which can attack and be attacked as well, is a concept he made up. Further, he cherishes it, defends it, and is sometimes even willing to "sacrifice" his "life" on its behalf. For he regards it as himself. This self he sees as being acted on, reacting to external forces as they demand, and helpless midst the power of the world.

*'''3'''. Everyone who needs help, regardless of the [[form]] of his distress, is [[attacking]] himself, and his [[peace]] of mind is suffering in consequence. These tendencies are often described as "self-destructive," and the patient often regards them in that way himself. What he does not realize and needs to learn is that this "[[self]]," which can attack and be attacked as well, is a [[concept]] he made up. Further, he cherishes it, defends it, and is sometimes even willing to "[[sacrifice]]" his "life" on its behalf. For he regards it as himself. This self he sees as being acted on, reacting to external [[forces]] as they demand, and helpless midst the [[power]] of the world.  

4. Psychotherapy, then, must restore to his awareness the ability to make his own decisions. He must become willing to reverse his thinking, and to understand that what he thought projected its effects on him were made by his projections on the world. The world he sees does therefore not exist. Until this is at least in part accepted, the patient cannot see himself as really capable of making decisions. And he will fight against his freedom because he thinks that it is slavery.

*'''4'''. [[Psychotherapy]], then, must restore to his [[awareness]] the [[ability]] to make his own [[decisions]]. He must become willing to [[reverse]] his [[thinking]], and to understand that what he thought [[projected]] its effects on him were made by his projections on the world. The world he sees does therefore not exist. Until this is at least in part [[accepted]], the patient cannot see himself as really capable of making [[decisions]]. And he will fight against his [[freedom]] because he thinks that it is [[slavery]].  

5. The patient need not think of truth as God in order to make progress in salvation. But he must begin to separate truth from illusion, recognizing that they are not the same, and becoming increasingly willing to see illusions as false and to accept the truth as true. His Teacher will take him on from there, as far as he is ready to go. Psychotherapy can only save him time.

*'''5'''. The patient need not [[think]] of [[truth]] as [[God]] in order to make [[progress]] in [[salvation]]. But he must begin to separate truth from [[illusion]], recognizing that they are not the same, and [[becoming]] increasingly willing to see [[illusions]] as [[false]] and to [[accept]] the truth as true. His Teacher will take him on from there, as far as he is ready to go. Psychotherapy can only save him [[time]]. The [[Holy Spirit]] uses time as He thinks best, and He is never wrong. Psychotherapy under His direction is one of [[the means]] He uses to save time, and to [[prepare]] additional teachers for His work. There is no end to the help that He begins and He directs. By whatever routes He chooses, all psychotherapy leads to God in the end. But that is up to Him. We are all His psychotherapists, for He would have us all be [[healed]] in Him.  

The Holy Spirit uses time as He thinks best, and He is never wrong. Psychotherapy under His direction is one of the means He uses to save time, and to prepare additional teachers for His work. There is no end to the help that He begins and He directs. By whatever routes He chooses, all psychotherapy leads to God in the end. But that is up to Him. We are all His psychotherapists, for He would have us all be healed in Him.

==The Process of Psychotherapy-Introduction==

==The Process of Psychotherapy-Introduction==

1. Psychotherapy is a process that changes the view of the self. At best this "new" self is a more beneficent self-concept, but psychotherapy can hardly be expected to establish reality. That is not its function. If it can make way for reality, it has achieved its ultimate success. Its whole function, in the end, is to help the patient deal with one fundamental error; the belief that anger brings him something he really wants, and that by justifying attack he is protecting himself. To whatever extent he comes to realize that this is an error, to that extent is he truly saved.

1. Psychotherapy is a process that changes the view of the self. At best this "new" self is a more beneficent self-concept, but psychotherapy can hardly be expected to establish reality. That is not its function. If it can make way for reality, it has achieved its ultimate success. Its whole function, in the end, is to help the patient deal with one fundamental error; the belief that anger brings him something he really wants, and that by justifying attack he is protecting himself. To whatever extent he comes to realize that this is an error, to that extent is he truly saved.